Machine for making medicinal tablets



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1;

O. L. JENSEN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MEDICINAL TABLETS, &c. No. 854,319. Patented Dec. 14, 1886.

u PETERS. Phawumn m. wisnmgm'n, D. a.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. L.- JENSEN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MEDICINAL TABLETS, M.

No. 354,319. Patented Dec. 14, 1886.

g 6% 9c H N. PETERS. FhalnrL'rthngnphen Washinglm 0.6.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

C.-L. JENSEN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MEDICINAL TABLETS, 8:0. v No 354,319. Patented-Dec. 14, 1886.

INVENTOR N. FETER5, Prmwmho n hur, Wumn wn. n. (L

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL L. JENSEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACE-NE FOR MAKING MEDICINAL TABLETS, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 110,354,319, dated December 14, 1886.

Application filed May 5, 1886. SerialNo. 201,153. (No model.)

To caZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, CARL L. J ENSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usef ul Improvements in Machines for Making Medieinal Tablets, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation, part of the fly-wheel I being broken off. Fig. 2 is a like elevation of the opposite side of the machine, a portion of the side of the main frame and adjuncts being broken away in oris the main frame-work of the machine, which der to show parts otherwise concealed from view. Fig. 3, SheetZ, is a front elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow a, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a partial rear view, looking in the direction of the arrow 12, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is a front elevation of the toggleframe, toggle-lever, and adjuncts, showing also the mold-cylinder and the eccentric heads in longitudinal section. Fig. 6isavertical1ongitudinal section of the mold-cylinder, showing one of the series of dies at the top, and the sliding bar to which they are connected, also the eccentric heads and devices for vertically adjusting the same. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the moldcylinder. Fig. 8 represents the bracket detachedthat is, secured to the toggle cross head for holding the punches. Fig. 9 is a view ofone of the channeled eccentric heads and rollers working therein, looking toward theinside, the device for adjusting said heads vertically being shown in section.

The nature of this in'vention'is an organized machine or combination of mechanism for forming by pressure, from material in a powder form or mass, tablets of pepsin and other substances, for medicinal or other uses; and it consists, as stated generally, in the combination, with a hollow cylinder, hereinafter termed the moldcylinder, having a series of sockets in its periphery, with movable dies or punches working therein, said cylinder being actuated at intervals by a pawl and ratchet, of an arm or lever carrying punches,.which, by the movement of said lever, are caused by suitable mechanism to coact at predetermined intervals with similar movable punches or dies working in the sockets of said cylinder, in a manner to compress the powdered materialinto tablets between the opposing ends of the punches and the sides of the sockets, and when the tablets are formed the punches on said arm or lever are caused to be withdrawn from the sockets, and at a certain point in the revolution of the cylinder the tablets are ejected from the sockets or molds by the return movement of the cylindcrpunches actuated by cam mechanism.

The invention also consists in certain devices and combinations of mechanism, which will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring now to the annexed drawings, A

is made of such strength as to resist the great strain to which it is to be subjected.

B is a hollow cylinder, termed the moldcylinder, mounted on a shaft, 1), that is journaled transversely in the forward end of the frame A. This cylinder is provided with a series of sockets, -c, there being in the present instance four series each of five in line, the

several lines or series being disposed equidistaut] y on the periphery of the cylinder. The diameter of each socket limits the diameter of the tablets which the machine is designed to make.

D is a series of punches or dies, adapted to reciprocate within the sockets and to coact with similar dies or punches, D, on the end of the cross-head U of the togglelevcr '1, hereinafter described, in order to compress the powder which is fed into the sockets 0, and to eject therefrom the finished tablets at a certain point in the revolution of the cylinder.

Each series of punches D is secured to bars E, respectivelyfour in number in the pres ent instancethe ends of which bars slide in radial slotsf in the two heads of cylinder B, and whose inner ends bear against the side of the shaft Z), which receives the strain during the compression of the powder into tablet form, as hereinafter explained; The punches may be separately adjusted vertically by means of nuts n, Fig. 7, and they may also be readily removed and replaced when desired.

Upon studs H, Fig. 9, projecting laterally ICO from the sides of bars E, are journaled rollers I, Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 9, which enter grooves or channels J on the inner sides of fixed heads G, that are secured to the main frame of the machine, and are, as seen, eccentric to the mold-cylinder.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that as the mold-cylinder is rotated the rollers I, being compelled to follow the channel-ways of the eccentrics, cause the punches to reciprocate a certain distance or stroke within the sockets c in the periphery of the cylinder.

The heads G are held on the inner side of the frame, in close proximity to the ends, respectively, of the cylinder B, by means of bolts 1, which extend through vertical slots 2, Figs. 6 and 9, in a downward projection of each of the heads G, in conjunction with nuts 3, Figs. 1 and 2, on the threaded ends of said bolts, projecting beyond the outside of the main frame. By shifting these heads vertically the ex treme actual height and depth of the travel of the rollers I maybe changed at will, and consequently that of the bars E and the dies D. In this way the amount of pressure upon the powder in the sockets may be increased or diminished at pleasurethat is to say, the thickness of the tablets may thus be determined. In order to readily move the heads up or down, as may be desired, I provide each of the same with an extension, 4, Figs. 6 and 9, in which I make a horizontal slot, 5, Fig. 9, the slot of the one coming opposite to that of the other. Through said slots is passed a rod, 6, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9, having an elliptical cam, 7, thereon and square-sided at one end, 8, to receive a wrench for turning said rod and cam. When the rod or cam is thus turned in one direction, the heads G will be forced upward, and when in the other direction downward.

In the side of the inner walls of the channel J is a notch or offset, 70, Fig. 9. This is located at a point where the rollers I in succession can drop into said notch during the moment of compression of thepowder in sockets cinto tablets, so that the strain upon the bar E may be then taken entirely by the shaft 1).

L, Figs. 1 and 2, is a hopper, secured to the main frame by the angle-bars Z, Figs. 1 and 2, its lower end resting upon or in close proximity to the periphery of the mold-cylinder, on the upper side thereof. This hopper is the receptacle for the pepsin or other powder, which falls into and fills the molds or sockets as the longitudinal series thereof in succession come underneath. The powder within the hopper is kept stirred, so as to insure the filling of,

the molds, by means of rotating brushes Z on shafts Z Z and'l", as hereinafter described.

One end of the shaft b of cylinder B carries a disk, M, fixed thereon, Figs. 1, 3, and 4, and having in the present instance four ratchet teeth, m, on its periphery. On the same shaft is pivoted a crank, m whose free end bears a pawl, m adapted to engage with the ratchetteeth m. A rod, N, connects the crank and a spur-gear, Q, on a shaft, S j ournaled transversely in the main frame A, and itis by the rotation of this gear Q", actuating crank m,

passing through slots at, in connection with a set-screw, a in a lug, n, which screw bears against the end of one of the parts, a, of the rod.

S, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, is the main shaft of the machine,which carries the driving-pulley I, loose pulley I, and the flywheel P. This shaft, as well as others in the machine, is journaled in the main frame, from which extend bosses at, in order to provide a long bearing for the shafts, and thus keep the same steady. On shaft S is also a pinion, Q, that gears with a sperm/heel, Q, on a shaft, S, and a pinion, Q, on the other end of the latter shaft gears with the spur-wheel Q on shaft S upon which latter is the wheel, it will be remembered, to which the connecting-rod N is pivoted, as hereinbefore stated. This upper shaft, S has on itsinner extremity a gear, Q, that engages with a gear, Q, on a shaft, S journaled in the opposite side of the main frame. On the side of gear Q, is a stud, r, to which is pivoted one end of a rod, It, whose other end is pivoted to one of the arms of a toggle, T, whereby the dies or punches D, coacting with the punches D of the mold-cylinder B, are caused to compress the powder into tablets inthe sockets of said cylinder.

The upper arm, t, of the toggle is pivoted to a bolt, t passing through the bow a of the main frame, and is secured by a nut, t. The other arm, 1", is pivoted to a threaded bolt, t, that is secured by nuts i i and thus longitudinally adjustable in a cross-head, U, that .is adapted to slide in guideways a, Fig. 5,

projecting inwardly from the bow a of the main frame. To the lower end of this crosshead is bolted a bracket, V, Figs. 2, 5, and 8, to which are secured the longitudinal series of punches or dies D, so arranged as to come opposite to and in position to enter into and to retreat fronithe sockets in the mold-cylinder at predetermined intervals, as hereinafter described. The punches Dare secured to bracket V by means of nuts d, Fig. 2, and the former is secured to the cross head U by bolts 1), Fig. 5. By this construction the bracket may be removed and replaced when desired, as also each of said punches, separately.

The shaft S has secured on its outer end a crank, W, which is connected by a rod, IV, to a sliding head, W working in guideways w on the side of the main frame. This sliding head ends in a tooth, 10*, which, as the former is reciprocated, successively engages with and is disengaged from slots 3/ in the periphery of a disk, Y, fixed to the shaft b on the opposite end thereof from the aforementioned ratchet-disk M.

The purpose and function of the devices just described are to securely retain the cylinder I p A" i j in position while the punches D are entered in the molding-sockets in the operation of forming the tablets.

There is a pulley, z, on shaft 8*, (shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) from which passes a belt, 2, over a pulley, .2", on the shaft Z journaled transversely in the ends of the hopper L. Two small gears, 2 z on shafts Z" and 1*, respectively, engage with a gear, 2 011 shaft 1 These rotated shafts carry the stirring-brushes Z, which I usually make of wire.

I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific mechanism hereinbefore described-as, for example, the toggle-lever T may be actuated by suitable cam devices in lieu of a train of gears, and, in fact, a simple head working in suitable guides may be substituted for the toggle, said head being actuated by known devices which will cause said head carrying the punches D to coact with the cylinder B and its dies D, and thereby produce the same result in substantially the same way as is effected by the specific mechanism I have hereinbefore described.

Having described the construction of my invention, I will now proceed to explain its operation, presuming that it will of course be understood that all the gears and the moving parts are so proportioned, adjusted, and timed as to produce the results to be described in continuous succession.

In the drawings, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the relative position of the operating parts is such as they occupy at the instant the body of powder within one of the lines of sockets c of the mold-cylinder has been fully compressed and the tablets 0, Fig. 5, formed. It will be seen that the arms of the toggle are straightened out in line, the cross-head dies D are entered their full distance within the sockets c, the tooth w of the sliding head W is engaged in one of the slots y of the disk Y, and the bar B, in line with the punches D, is at its lowest point with its lower surface bearing against the shaft 1), the two opposite rollers I having dropped into the notch is, so that the shafts of the rollers shall be relieved of the strain, as previously stated. As the several shafts and gears, &c., connected therewith continue their motion in the direction of the respective arrows, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the punches are withdrawn from the socket c by the action of the rod R on the toggle T. The tooth w is retracted from its engagement with slot y by the operation of the connectingrod IV and crank W, actuated by the gears before described. At the same time these operations are going on, the rotation of gear Q moving the connectingrod N and crank of, the pawl m is being carried into position to engage with another tooth of the ratchet M, which it does immediately after the punches and tooth w are free from the mold-cylinder and disk Y, respectively. This advances the ratchet, and consequently the cylinder. The next series of sockets are brought under the hopper, when the powder contained therein fills saidsock ets. The movement continues until the crank has reached the limit of its stroke, whereupon, by the operation of the suitably adjusted and proportioned mechanism hereinbefore described, the tooth and punches again occupy the position first mentioned, and as shown in the drawings. At the same time the move-- ment of the rollers I in the eccentric grooves J throws the bars E, and consequently the punches D, gradually outward, until,whcn the particular line of sockets reaches the under side of the cylinder, the ejected tablets drop into a suitable receptacle underneath the cylinder. I

I have omitted to state that the series of sockets or apertures c are in section-pieces c, which are detachabl y secured onto the periphcry of the mold-cylinder, so that they may be removed and others with sockets of different diameter substituted therefor, the punches D and D being of course changed to suit.

Having thus described the construction and operation of my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a tablet-making machine, the combi:

nation of the rotatable cylinder having a series of sockets in its periphery, a corresponding sliding bar or bars within said cylinder, with a series of punches or dies secured to said bar or bars, fixed heads having grooves or channels placed eccentrically to the aforesaid cylinder, studs or rollers on said sliding bar or bars adapted to work in said channels as the cylinder is rotated, together with asliding head carrying a series of punches adapted to register with the said sockets in the cylinder, and mechanism for reciprocating sa1d sl1d1ng head,

so as to cause its dies to enter and retreat fromsaid sockets at predetermined intervals, the parts being constructed and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the rotatable cylinder having a series of sockets in its periphery, one or more bars within said cylinder carrying corresponding dies working in said sockets, the fixed heads having the eccentric ways J, the rollers connected to said bars and working in said ways, the ratchet-disk, crank, and pawl,

with mechanism for reciprocating said crank,

whereby said cylinder is rotated regularlyand intermittently, together with the toggle carryingthe punches, and means for operating said toggle with reference to the movement of said cylinder in the manner described, the construction and operation being substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the intermittentlyrotatable cylinder having the series of sockets and dies therein and the pnnch-bearing toggle adapted to coact with said sockets and dies in the'cylinder, as described, the disk Y on the shaft of said cylinder, having the slots 3/, the sliding head IV", provided with the tooth w,

' R, connecting said gear Q and the toggle, the

disk M, provided with ratchet-teeth, the crank m pawl m and connecting-rod N, pivoted to gear Q" and crank m all constructed and adapted to operate substantit lly as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a tablet-n1aki11g machine, the combination of the hollow rotatable cylinder provided with radial slotsf and the sockets c in 20 its periphery, the dies working in said sockets, the bars E, to which said dies are connected, the rollers I, the fixed heads G, having the channels J eccentric to said cylinder, and means, substantially as shown and described, 25 for adjusting said heads Vertically, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with the sliding head U, of the detachable bracket V, adapted to receive the dies D, substantially as and for the 0 pn rpose specified.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto affixed my signature" this 29th day of April, A. D. 1886.

CARL L. JENSEN.

'Witnesses:

JNo. NOLAN, Framers S. BROWN. 

